DEER SEASON DEBUTS WITH ARCHERY AND MUZZLELOADER

Hunters are always encouraged to refer to the 2013 Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting before hitting the field

Regulations Summary

PRATT­ – For some, the beginning of fall is heralded by leaves changing colors, for others it’s cooler temperatures and shorter days, but for hunters fall is marked by the start of deer season. In less than two weeks, hunters will take to tree stands and blinds throughout the state, bow in hand and powder horn packed.

The 2013 muzzleloader season will begin Sept. 16 and run through Sept. 29. New this year, hunters are allowed to use muzzleloading rifles, muskets and pistols, .40 caliber or larger.

The 2013 archery season will begin Sept. 16 and run through Dec. 31. New this year, crossbows are legal archery equipment for all archers. However, anyone who hunts big game or turkeys with a crossbow must obtain a free Crossbow Survey ID Number available online at www.ksoutdoors.com.

Hunter orange, a hat and vest, must be worn by all hunters during the muzzleloader season, and shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

The next deer season will be the new two-day Pre-rut Whitetail Antlerless Only season from Oct. 12 - Oct. 13, 2013, followed by the Regular Firearm season Dec. 4 - Dec. 15, 2013.

To download an electronic version of the 2013 Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, visitksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting / Hunting Regulations.” Printed copies can be found at local license vendors and at any Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism regional office.

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ARRIVAL OF SPRING PUTS TURKEY HUNTING BACK IN FULL STRUT

The sound of a turkey gobble is a sure sign of Spring and music to turkey hunters’ ears. This season will kick off with the youth/disabled and archery season April 1-9, followed by the regular firearm season April 10-May 31. Hunters have until May 30 to purchase a 2013 Spring turkey permit for Units 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. A turkey permit is valid for one bearded turkey.

During the youth/disabled/archery season, hunters 16 and younger and hunters with disabilities may hunt with

April 1 Marks the start of the
2013 spring turkey season for archers,
 youth and disable hunters

any legal equipment, including shotguns, bows and crossbows.

NEW THIS SEASON: Recently-approved regulations removed gauge restrictions on shotguns for turkey hunting and allow crossbows during archery seasons. HOWEVER, hunters are reminded that the aforementioned changes WILL NOT go into affect until April 19, 2013. After that date, hunters may use any gauge shotgun or muzzleloading shotgun with shot size No. 2 through No. 9.

Kansas youth 16 and under can purchase a spring turkey permit valid statewide for $12.50, or a combo permit/game tag for $17.50.

Permit/Game Tag combos are available only through March 31. After March 31, hunters must purchase a spring turkey permit and spring turkey game tag at the regular price.

Other spring turkey fees are as follows:

RESIDENT

-Resident Permit: $22.50

-Resident Combo Permit/Game Tag: $27.50 (through March 31 only)

-Resident Turkey Game Tag: $12.50

LANDOWNER/TENANT

-Landowner/Tenant Permit: $12.50

-Landowner/Tenant COMBO Permit/Game Tag: $17.50 (through March 31 only)

NONRESIDENT

-Nonresident Permit: $32.50

-Nonresident COMBO Permit/Game Tag: $47.50 (through March 31 only)

-Nonresident Turkey Game Tag $22.50

Any individual who has purchased a spring turkey permit is also eligible for one spring turkey game tag. Spring game tags are valid for Units 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Hunters who drew a Unit 4 (southwest Kansas) spring turkey permit earlier this year may also use their Unit 4 permit in adjacent Units 1, 2 and 5.

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

For more information, consult your 2013 Spring Turkey Hunting Atlas, or visit www.ksoutdoors.com.

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NEW REGULATIONS CREATE GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR HUNTERS

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) adopted a total of six regulations at the Mar. 21 commission meeting in Topeka. The newly-adopted changes simplify hunting regulations, allow more flexibility in legal equipment, and most importantly, provide additional opportunities for individuals interested in outdoor recreation.

Commissioners approved a recommendation to establish a fee for a nonresident combination either-sex/antlerless only whitetail permit, as directed by the 2012 legislature. The new permit fee was set at $315

KDWPT commissioners approve several changes related to legal hunting equipment

and will provide nonresidents applicants successful in the drawing with a permit that includes two carcass tags, one valid for an antlered white-tailed deer or an antlerless deer and one for a white-tailed antlerless deer. The combo permit will be the only choice for nonresidents.

KDWPT staff also recommended simplified equipment regulations for big game and turkey that were approved. Big game hunters can now select any caliber centerfire rifle or handgun, any gauge shotgun with slugs, and any muzzleloader rifle and pistol .40 caliber or larger. Crossbows are now legal equipment during archery seasons for anyone with a valid archery permit. Turkey hunters are no longer restricted to 20-gauge shotguns or larger. All gauges will be allowed, using shot size No. 2 through No. 9.



Equipment regulations for turkey hunting allowing all shotgun gauges and crossbowsduring the archery season won’t take effect until April 19, 2013. Crossbows will also not be legal for archery hunters during the April 1-9 season (youth and hunters with disabilities can use any legal equipment, except shotguns smaller than 20 gauge).

Restrictions on electronic devices attached to bows were amended, allowing cameras, and rangefinders, as well as radio frequency devices attached to arrows, designed to make retrieval of hit deer more efficient.

The 2013 deer season was approved, including a pre-rut whitetail antlerless-only season mandated by the 2012 legislature, and the dates are as follows:

Youth and Disability, September 7, 2013 – September 15, 2013
Early Muzzleloader, September 16, 2013 – September 29, 2013
Archery, September 16, 2013 – December 31, 2013
Pre-Rut Whitetail antlerless only October 12, 2013 – October 13, 2013
Regular Firearms December 4, 2013 – December 15, 2013
Extended Whitetail antlerless only January 1, 2014 – January 12, 2014
Special Extended Whitetail antlerless only January 13, 2014 – January 19, 2014
Extended Archery (DMU 19) January 20, 2014– January 31, 2014

A complete copy of the aforementioned regulations and their perspective economic impact statements may be obtained electronically by visiting www.ksoutdoors.com, by calling (785) 296-2281, or by writing the chairman of the commission at: Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 1020 S. Kansas Ave, Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612.

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